Velocipede



(Nd-Model.)

3 Sheets'Sheet 1. T. HALL.

' VBLOOIPEDB.

No. 570,015. Patented 0011.27, 1896.

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(No Model.) I "3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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No. 570,015. 1 Patented 0m. 27, 1896.

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VELOOIPEDE.

No. 570,015. Patented Oct. 27, 1-696.

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UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

THOMAS HALL, OF MANCHESTER, ENGLAND.

VELOCIPEDE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 570,015, dated October 27, 1896.

I Application filed June 4, 1895. Serial No. 551,690. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS HALL, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, and a resident of Manchester, in the county of Lancaster, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bicycles, Tricycles, and Similar Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improved mechanical appliances for bicycles, tricycles, and similar vehicles to increase their utility and service. I

It consists, essentially, of an appliance which I calla transformer or adjustable driving-gear, to enable the rider to apply the energy enforced for progression either as speed or as power, comprising a spindle with two keys fitted thereto, one at either end, two sprocket-wheels capable of sliding to and fro thereon provided with keyways to fit over the fixed keys, a bracket secured to the frame, and a sliding guide provided with forked ends which fit into grooves in the bosses of the sprocket-wheels. It will be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which sufficient of a bicycle is shown to illustrate the invention.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bicycle,showing the invention applied thereto; Fig. 2, a front elevation of the transformer; Fig. 3, a sectional elevation of same; Fig. 4, a trans verse sectional elevation; Fig. 5, a plan of bracket F and sliding guide E; Fig. 6, a side elevation of same; Fig. 7, a sectional elevation showing a modified arrangement Fig. 8, a plan of bracket F; Fig. 9, a plan of sliding guide E.

The frame A of the cycle is made of any ordinary or convenient form and the application of the invention does not require the alteration of any of the forms of frame at present in use.

The driving or crank spindle B is made sufficiently long to carry two sprocket-wheels O 0, one near either end. The ordinary sprocket-wheel O is set at liberty, so that it may run loosely and independently on the spindle B, if so required, and the additional sprocket-wheel O at the other end of the spindle is mounted in a similar manner.

Each of the sprocket-Wheels O O is provided with a projecting boss 0, having a groove turned into and upon it, in addition to which each wheel is provided with a keyway or slot 0, which can slide over a fixed key when the wheels are moved in a lateral direction.

The driving or crank spindle B is mounted in the journal B and is fitted with two fast keys 2), one at either end. The keys I) are preferably placed, as shown, under the pedalcranks D with the ends projecting inward toward the sprocket-wheels, so that the keyways or slots cut therein may engage with or slide over the keys I), When desired.

The sprocket-wheels O and O, which are capable of lateral movement on the driving orcrank spindle B, are connected together by a forked guide or sliding piece E. The

guide E is fitted at the ends with forks e, which fit over and engage with the grooves formed in the bosses c of the sprocket-wheels. By moving this forked guide E in one direction or the other the sprocket-wheels O and O are slid along the spindle B and one or other of them brought into gear with one of the keys I) and the other one disengaged therefrom, so that the rider can apply his energy either for speed or power, accordingly as the driving-power from the pedals is transmitted through the one or the other.

The sliding guide E fits into and is supported by a metal bracket F, which is attached to the frame A by two metal lugs f, which embrace the uprights of the frame. It is preferably constructed of a flat strip of metal-with inclined or beveled edges, and the bracket F is so constructed that on its under side there is a course or channel formed with beveled lips corresponding with the beveled sides E, which forms a dovetailed joint when the two parts are together, and by means of which the guide E is supported in position.

To the guide E is connected a rod or lever G, by which it is actuated or moved from side to side, and in the bracket F is cut a slot through which the rod or lever G passes.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 7, S, and 9, a modification of the sliding guide is shown in which the two forked ends can be drawn toward each other in order to throw both of the sprocket-wheels out of gear at the same time. For this purpose the sliding guide E is made in two parts connected by links H, which are pivoted thereto and to each other. They are also pivoted to a rod or lever 7L, which passes through a second slot in the fixed bracket F. The slide E is moved from side to side by the rod G, as previously described, and both ends are drawn in to throw both sprocket-wheels O C out of gear by depressing the links H, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 7.

On the hub 70 of the back or driving wheel K of the cycle are fixed two sprocket-Wheels L L, one larger than the other, which are connected with or geared to the sprocketwheels 0 O by the driving-chains M M.

hat I claim as my invention, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is

1. A transformer or differential driving-gear for cycles comprising in combination with the pedals and cranks a driving-spindle l3 fitted with two keys 1) one at either end securely fixed thereto, two sprocket-wheels O C loose and capable of sliding thereon provided with a keyway to engage with the fixed keys on the driving-spindle, grooved bosses c on the sprockct-wheels C C, a sliding guide E sliding longitudinally of the driving-spindle 13 provided with inclined or beveled edges and forked ends 6 which engage in the grooves in the bosses c by which the wheels are caused to move laterally on the spindle, the metal bracket F with a dovetail course or channel in which the guide E slides and by which it is supported the metal lugs f fitted to the bracket F which embrace the uprights of the frame A, the actuating lever G, the two sprocket-wheels L L attached to the back driving-wheel K and the driving-chains M M connecting the sprocket-wheels O G with the sprocket-wheels L L substantially as described and shown.

2. In a transformer or diiferential gear for cycles the combination with the pedal-cranks D and driving-spindle B of the fast keys I) the loose sprocket wheels C 0 provided with grooved bosses c and internal keyways to engage with the fixed keys I), the sliding guide E made in two parts and sliding longitudinally of the driving-spindle B the links ll pivoted thereto by which the parts are connected, the lever h pivoted to the links by which the forked ends are drawn together, the actuating-lever G for moving the guide Eto throw sprocket-wheels in and out of gear and the supporting-bracket F with lugs f by which it is attached to the frame A substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS HALL. lVitn esses:

I. OwDEN OBRIEN, CHAS. OVENDALE. 

